Electropneumatic and electrohydraulic reforming of tubing and the like

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are apparatus and method for the electropneumatic and electrohydraulic reforming and the like of members such as, for example, container bodies and the like. The force generated for performing the reforming is created through the application of electrical energy to a pair of electrodes positioned within a chamber to provide an electrical discharge within such chamber. The electrical discharge creates a plasma bubble between the electrodes and such bubble continues to grow as continued power is supplied to the electrodes. Also disclosed are apparatus and method for severing and flanging members using similarly developed force. The force so created drives the wall of the member or workpiece against an adjacent die to perform the desired operation or operations.

ilnited States tent inventor Donald J. Roth Chicago Heights, ill.

Appl. No. 28,739

Filed Apr. 15, 1970 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 Assignee Continental Can Company, Inc.

New York, N.Y. Original application Mar. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 441,017, now Patent No. 3,555,866. Divided and this application Apr. 15, 1970, Ser. No. 28,739

ELECTROPNEUMATIC AND ELECTROHYDRAULIC REFORMING OF TUBING AND THE LIKE 7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 72/56, 72/63 Int. Cl B2ld 26/12 Field of Search .I. 72/56, 63;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,256,846 6/1966 Keinanen 72/5 6 3,203,212 8/1965 Simicich 72/56 3,206,845 9/1965 Crump 72/56 3,222,902 12/ l 965 Brejcha et al 72/56 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Att0rneyDiller, Brown, Ramik & Holt ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein are apparatus and method for the electropneumatic and electrohydraulic reforming and the like of members such as, for example, container bodies and the like. The force generated for performing the reforming is created through the application of electrical energy to a pair of electrodes positioned within a chamber to provide an electrical discharge within such chamber. The electrical discharge creates a plasma bubble between the electrodes and such bubble continues to grow as continued power is supplied to the electrodes. Also disclosed are apparatus and method for severing and flanging members using similarly developed force. The force so created drives the wall of the member or workpiece against an adjacent die to perform the desired operation or operations.

maminm 41912 3531.699

SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR v DONALD w WM x M ATTORNEY ELECTROPNEUMATIC AND ELECTROHYDRAULIC REFORMING F TUBING AND THE LIKE This application is a divisional of copending commonly assigned application Ser. No. 839,002, filed July 3, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,555,866. The aforementioned earlier filed application is a divisional of my copending commonly assigned application Ser. No. 441,017, filed Mar. 19, 1965.

This invention relates to reforming means and more specifically to apparatus and methods for performing reforming by the employment of an arc discharge in an electropneumatic or electrohydraulic medium.

I-Ieretofore, in operations relating to the fabrication of containers possessing thin walls, the initial step in the fabrication of the container is to sever a portion from stock material. This portion, known as a blank, is then advanced to means which form the blank in the desired configuration. The operations of cutting or severing, flanging, reshaping and/or reforming were accomplished at relatively slow speeds and each operation was performed individually. If the fabrication of containers, whether they be of metal, plastic, paper or any combination of these materials, is to by truly successful, then the operation must by performed at high speed, with economies of operation, and the fabrication must be easily controlled.

The principles of the invention are applied to the operation of reforming or reshaping a container body. It will be understood that throughout the specification reshaping and reforming are synonymous and will be used interchangeably. The reforming operation could be performed before or after a severing and flanging operation. If it is desired, the reforming operation could be performed by a continuous operation without the necessity of halting the containers while travelling through the fabrication process.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for performing operations on container bodies and tubes by causing a spark discharge in a fluid medium to displace the body according to a predetermined configuration.

Although a number of operations are shown and described which may be performed on container bodies, the principle of the invention relates to, in one embodiment, positioning a length of cylindrically formed material within a restraining means and severing a portion of the material, which severing takes place radially and completely about the periphery of the container. The container edge may also be flanged simultaneously with the severing operation. The container body is positioned within a circular die and supported about the inside periphery of the die is a cutting or severing knife. Within the die, a chamber is formed which houses a pair of electrodes. The chamber may house any one ofa number offluids, such as air, water or oil of high-dialectric constant, etc. When a power supply capable of causing a discharge to take place between the electrodes is applied to connecting leads, the force created by the discharge is transmitted through the fluid to the inside wall of the container. At the point where the cutting knife meets the container, a severing operation will result. The cutting knife is beveled which permits the rapidly moving severed container edge to continue on into the beveled area (a void between the side of the severing knife and the die) to then result in a flanging operation. Due to the elasticity of the material, a certain amount of flanging may take place just prior to the complete severing of the cylindrical wall of the container. The energies which force the wall of the container against the severing-flanging die are created by the discharging of the high-current spark across the spark gap. A plasma bubble is formed in the spark gap and continues to grow as continued power is applied to the electrodes. This expansion, in one embodiment, forces the elastomeric material out very rapidly against the tubing, causing the desired operation on the tubing. This force occurs within microseconds so that a very rapid severing and flanging rate may be maintained.

In addition to the possible severing and flanging operation mentioned above, a reforming operation is performed. In the reforming operation, the severing knife die is replaced with a reforming die in which the spark discharge causes the container wall to be violently forced against the reforming die to result in a forming or reforming operation.

Various modifications are anticipated, one of which would be the positioning of the severing knife or die within the container, with the severing and reforming operations accomplished by driving the container wall inwardly. In addition, various combinations of severing, reforming, or flanging may be accomplished by positioning the elements of the invention in the desired manner.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional side elevation view showing a cylindrical member in position for severing and flanging;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the form of the invention illustrated in the FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing one form of the reformer and a cylindrical body in position for reforming;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevation view similar to the view of the FIG. 1 and illustrating a modified form of the invention wherein the electrodes are disposed about the container body;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side elevation view similar to the view of the FIG. 1 and illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention in the FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to the view of the FIG. 4 and illustrating a modified form of the container reformer or reshaper and a container body in position to be reformed or reshaped;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to the view of the FIG. 9 but illustrating a type of embossing die wherein undulations are formed in the container wall to result in a reshaping or reforming of the tube or contained body; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of the FIG. 10.

It may be noted at this point, that the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 is best suited for performing operations with the spark discharge being in an atmosphere of air or other gas. These embodiments may be termed electropneumatic. The apparatus shown in the FIGS. 7 through 11 are best suited for operations wherein the chamber enclosing the spark discharge area contains a liquid. These embodiments may be termed electrohydraulic. However, it will be understood that either a gas or liquid may be employed in any of the apparatus illustrated in the figures.

With reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a cylindrical die 20 surrounds a cylindrical tube or container body 22. The die 20 is split at 24 and 26 to facilitate the removal of a severed and flanged container body by separating the die 20, which separation means are not showing Supported within the die 20 and directed inwardly is a severing knife 28 having its severing surface substantially perpendicular to the container body 22. The container body 22 fills substantially all the area within the inside of the die 20 and may or may not lightly engage the die 20 in the absence of a severing operation. It will be noted that the severing surface or point of the severing knife 28 extends to a point substantially in line with the inside periphery of the die 20. Formed next to the severing knife 28 and on the die 20 is a flanging radius 30 which controls the shape of the flange formed on the edge of the container body 22 when the container body 22 is driven against the severing knife 28 and severed. By varying the flanging radius 30, on the die 20, a great variety of shapes and sizes of flanges may be derived. By reducing the flanging radius 20 to substantially zero, then little or at best a very small radius would be formed on the container body 22. It will be intuitively clear that a certain area must be provided next to the severing knife 28 to permit the knife 28 to completely penetrate the wall of the container body 22, if such is desired.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a horn extension 32, of slightly lesser diameter than the container body 22, supports the means within the die 20 to cause the severing and flanging operation. A gas chamber 34 is formed between a sealing plate 36, which is rigidly connected to the horn extension 32 and a second sealing plate 38 which is held in place by a plurality of spacers 40. Thus, the chamber 34 is formed in the area between the sealing plates 36 and 38. The chamber 34 is substantially sealed between the sealing plates 36 and 38 and the container body 22 by a pair of low-friction seals (such as the familiar O- ring 42 and 44, respectively. The horn extension 32 would be movable and would normally place the chamber 34 is a position within the area toward which the severing knife 28 is directed.

Supported by any suitable means, not shown, are a pair of electrodes 46 and 48 which are coupled to a power supply, now shown, by the conductors 50 and 52, respectively. The force which does the mechanical work of severing and/or flanging a container body 22 is created by discharging a highpower spark across the electrodes 46 and 48. A plasma bubble is formed in the spark gap between the electrodes 46 and 48 and continues to grow as additional power is applied to the electrodes by the power supply, not shown. The spark discharge causes heating and vaporization of some of the fluid and expansion of this vapor along with gases entrapped within the fluid. The bubble thus generated dispiaces the fluid which in turn provides the force for subsequent operation. Thus, a cylindrical body such as a container body 22 would be thrown outwardly and against the severing knife 28 and into and about the flanging radius 30. The die 20 would then be opened by any conventional means and the severed portion of the cylindrical body 22 would be removed and the remaining portion of the cylindrical body 22 would be advanced to the point where another severing and/or flanging operation is desired.

Spark discharges between a pair of electrodes, such as the electrodes 46 and 48 in the FIGv 1, are well known in the art and do not need to be explained in detail with reference to the invention.

The FIG. 3 shows a modification of the chamber sealing means of the FIG. 1. As the FIG. 1 employs a pair of O-rings 42 and 44, the apparatus of the FIG. 3 employs inflatable members. The chamber 34 is formed by the sealing plates 54 and 56. About their peripheries and engaging the inner circumference of a container body 22 and the inflatable tubes or members 58 and 60, positioned respectively upon the sealing plates 54 and 56. The sealing plate 54 is connected to the horn extension 32 (in a manner similar to that shown in the FIG. 1) and the second sealing plate 56 is supported by a spacer 62 which is rigidly coupled to the sealing plate 54. Communicating with and within the sealing plate 54, is a passage 64 which connects with a source of pressure within a tube such as the air supply tube 66. The tube 60 communicates with the air supply tube 66 through a passage 68. The electrodes 46 and 48 are substantially identical to those shown in the FIG. 1.

in the embodiment of the F l6 3, the tubes 58 and 60 would be deflated during positioning of a container body or cylindrical tube 22 and upon the container body 22 reaching the point at which it is desired to sever and/or flange the body 22, a source of pressure would be supplied to the air supply tube 66 which would inflate the tubes 58 and 60 and engage the inside circumference of the container body 22 to effect a seal formed within the chamber area 34 defined by the sealing plates 54 and 56 and the inner circumference of the container body 22. When an appropriate source of potential is applied to cause a discharge between the electrodes 46 and 48, the container body 22 would be abruptly driven against the severing knife 28 and the flanging radius 30 to result in a complete severing and flanging of the container body 22.

During certain operations, the container body or cylindrical tube 22, whether metal, plastic, paper or any combination of these materials, may become distorted and require a reforming or reshaping of the cylindrical body. Accordingly, such a means is provided by the embodiment of the FIG. 4 wherein like elements are designated in a manner similar to those of the FIG. I. The sealing plates 36 and 38 are positioned a greater distance apart than those of the FIG. 1 as shown by the designation 40. The sealing members 42 and 44 are positioned entirely about the sealing plates 36 and 38, respectively, and form a chamber 34' within the area enclosed by the sealing plates 36 and 38, the seals 42 and 44, and the inside circumference of the container body or cylindrical tube 22.

As shown in the FIG. 4, a reforming or reshaping die 70, of cylindrical shape, completely surrounds the container body 22 and in proximity thereto. When a discharge is effected between the electrodes 46 and 48, the gas within the chamber 34' would be heated and the confined air would produce a very high gas pressure due to its thermal expansion. This energy, would force the container body 22 against the reforming die 70 to a result in a reshaping or reforming of the body.

In the FIG. 4, it will be noted that the reforming die 70 is positioned externally to the member to be shaped. in the embodiment shown in the FIGS. 5 and 6, the reforming die is positioned within the body and the discharge is caused between pairs of electrodes within a chamber formed about the body.

The apparatus of the FIGS. 5 and 6, will perform a reforming or reshaping operation by directing the reshaping energy inwardly toward the center of the container body 22. A U- shaped channel 72 is cylindrical with the open portion of the U directed inwardly toward similar configurations of the channel. A reforming die 74 is positioned within the cylindrical U-shaped channel 72 but is of slightly lesser diameter than the diameter of the area within the body 72. A container body 22 is positioned between the outer extremities of the reforming die 74 and the inner circumference of the U-shaped channel 72. A pair of sealing members 42 and 44 are positioned within the notches of the projecting members of the U-shaped channel 72 and are in engagement with the outer circumference of the container body 22. The seals or O-rings 42 and 44 are of a low-friction material to permit sliding engagement between the container body 22 and the seals 42 and 44.

A plurality of pairs of electrodes 46 and 48, having electrical leads 50 and 52 coupled, respectively, thereto, are posi' tioned about the chamber formed within the U-shaped member 72 and in the particular embodiment shown and described, four such pairs of electrodes are shown; however, it will be understood that any number of pairs of electrodes may be provided according to the requirements of the operation to be performed.

Thus, with a container body or cylindrical tube 22 in the position shown in the FIG. 5, a substantially sealed and closed chamber is formed within the U-shaped member 72 and the container body 22. Upon the application of a suitable power source to the conductors 50 and 52, a discharge will be caused to occur between the electrodes 46 and 48 and its resulting thermal expansion of the gases within the chamber, will force the walls of the container body 22 inwardly against the reforming die 74 to result in the reforming or reshaping operation.

Whereas the FIGS. 1 through 6 disclose embodiments of the invention wherein the chamber would contain an atmosphere such as air, the embodiments shown in the FIGS. 7 through 11 are known as electrohydrauiic forming means and would employ a fluid within the chamber such as water, and oil of high electric constant, or other suitable material. The fluid is contained within the chamber by an elastomeric material to be hereinafter described.

One form of this embodiment is shown in the FIG. 7. The die 20 and the severing knife 28 surround the container body 22 as in the FIG. 1. The horn extension 32 supports a first sealing plate 76 to the left of the severing knife 28 and a second sealing plate 78 to the right of the severing knife 28. It is not necessary that the knife 28 be centered between the sealing plates 76 and 78 but may be anywhere in iine with a chamber 82 and about an elastomeric material 80. The elastomeric material 80 of circular configuration is hollow and joins the sealing plates 76 and 78. The outside circumference of the elastomeric material 80 may or may not loosely engage the container body 22 and be secured to the sealing plates 76 and 78 in any suitable manner. A fluid chamber 82 is now formed within the confines of the elastomeric material 80. A pair of electrodes 46 and 48 are positioned within the fluid chamber 82 and have connecting electrical leads 50 and 52 coupled respectively, thereto. The force which performs the mechanical work to cause severing and/or flanging of a container body 22 in the FIG. 7, is created by discharging a high'voltage spark across the electrodes 46 and 48. A plasma body or bubble is formed in the spark gap between the electrodes and continues to grow as continued power is applied to the electrodes 46 and 48. This forces the elastomeric material 80 out very rapidly against the body or tubing 22, causing the tubing 22 to expand against the die to result in a severing and flanging operation.

In the FIG. 8, a reforming apparatus is shown which employs a fluid chamber 82' which completely surrounds the container body 22 to be reformed. Whereas the embodiment in the FIG. 5 discloses the electropneumatic arrangement, the electrohydraulic arrangement is shown in the FIG. 8. A U- shaped channel 72' is of circular configuration and completely surrounds the container body 22 and the reforming die 74. The elastomeric material 80 provides a seal to contain the fluid within the chamber 82'. Upon the application of a suitable voltage to the conductors 50 and 52, the resulting discharge between electrodes 46 and 48 will force the elastomeric material 80 against the container body 22 to result in a reforming or reshaping operation.

In the FIG. 9, a reforming or reshaping apparatus is shown which directs its forces outwardly, unlike the embodiment of the FIG. 8 which directs its reshaping forces inwardly. The sealing plates 76 and 78 are positioned a greater distance apart than that in the FIG. 7 so that reshaping may take place over a greater distance, which expanse is not required in a severing operation to which the apparatus of the FIG. 7 is directed. The elastomeric material 80 joins the sealing plates 76 and 78 and may be in intimate contact, loose contact or not in contact at all with the container body 22. Arranged circumferentially about the container body 22 is a reforming die 70, similar to that shown in the FIG. 4. Upon the application of a suitable voltage, the spark discharge between the electrodes 46 and 48 will cause the material 80 to be driven outwardly and force the container body 22 against the inner wall of the reforming die 70, to result in a reshaping of the container body 22.

The elastomeric material 80 may be of any suitable construction such as rubber, plastic, etc., and need be deformable by pressure within the chambers 82 and 82'. It is sufficiently resilient and yielding to transmit any pressure waves caused by the spark discharge between the electrodes 46 and 48 to the container body 22. The amplitude and duration of the electrical supply coupled to the conductors 50 and 52 may be controlled by any suitable control means. In addition, capacitors may be utilized to assure the correct energy charge applied to the electrodes 46 and 48. The control then, will include suitable means for applying the appropriate voltage to the capacitor, suitable impedance means in the capacitor and spark gap circuit to vary the time constant of the circuit, and thereby control the discharge rate. In addition, suitable means would be provided to control the time intervals between successive energizations of the electrodes,

The FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate reshaping or reforming means and are similar to the illustration of the FIG. 9 except that instead of a smooth die 70, the die 70 of the FIG. 10 has formed about its inner wall a plurality of undulations 84. When a spark discharge appears across the spark gap formed by the electrodes 46 and 48, the resulting outward movement of the elastomeric material 80 drives the container body 22 into the undulations 84 which result in rings or beads about the circumference of the container 22, which beads provide added strength and esthetic appeal. It will be understood that any number of undulations 84 may be provided and that the undulations 84 may be of any suitable geometric shape in which it is possible to form the container wall 22 without a severing or parting of the material. Further, it will be readily understood that reshaping may take many different forms and that the dies 70 may be conical, square, triangular, etc., or any combination of these geometric figures. As the container material 22 or tube is advanced through or about the dies so formed, excitation of the electrical energy will cause the elastomeric membrane to drive the container body 22 into engagement with the conforming die.

Thus, there has been described a means for severing, flanging, reshaping or reforming cylindrical containers by the use of the electrical energy created through a spark discharge across a pair of electrodes. In the first embodiment, either of the operations may be performed within a chamber containing a gas such as air. In other embodiments, the chamber may, as well as a gas, contain water or an oil which will transfer the force resulting from the electrical discharge between the electrodes 46 and 48 to cause the desired operation to the con tainer wall. It will be understood that severing and/or flanging and/or reforming may be performed either simultaneously, separately, or in any useful combination, as desired. For example, a reforming operation may precede or follow a severing operation and severing and flanging may be performed substantially simultaneously. It may be an advantage to do all the operations simultaneously.

Thus, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative.

I claim:

1. Tubular body reforming means comprising, in combination, an annular reforming die having a bore of uniform cross section, a first sealing means positioned within said die, a second sealing means spaced apart from and supported by said first sealing means and within said die, a volume within said sealing means and said die defining a chamber but permitting the insertion of a tubular body about said chamber and within said reforming die, means for continuously moving said tubular body between said reforming die and said chamber, and means for causing an electrical discharge within said chamber to force a body against said reforming die to result in a reforming of the moving tubular body, whereby the moving tubular body is reformed into a tubular body having substantially uniform outside dimension and shape along its length.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 including resilient means positioned about each of said sealing means to effect a seal between said sealing means and said tubular body.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient means are O-rings of low-frictional material.

4. Tubular body reforming means comprising, in combination, an annular reforming die having a bore of uniform cross section therein, a first circular plate supported within the opening of said annular die, a second circular plate spaced apart from and supported by said first circular plate within the opening of said reforming die, deformable means joining the peripheries of said first and said second circular plates, said first plate, said second plate and said deformable means defining a chamber, means for continuously moving a tubular body between said reforming die and said chamber, and means for causing an electrical discharge within said chamber to thereby force the moving tubular body against said reforming die by deformation of said deformable member, whereby the moving tubular body is reformed into a tubular body having a substan tially uniform outside dimension and shape along its length.

5. The method of reforming a tubular body comprising the steps of inserting a tubular body within a reforming die having a bore of uniform cross section, supporting a closed fluid filled chamber within the reforming die, continuously moving said tubular body between said reforming die and said chamber, and causing the fluid in the chamber to force the tubular body against the reforming die to result in a reforming of the moving tubular body, whereby the moving tubular body is reformed into a tubular body having a substantially uniform outside diameter and shape along its length.

6. The method of claim wherein said step of causing the fluid to force the tubular body is by an electrical discharge within said chamber.

7. The method of ciaim 5 wherein said tubular body in placed in direct contact with said fluid. 5 

1. Tubular body reforming means comprising, in combination, an annular reforming die having a bore of uniform cross section, a first sealing means positioned within said die, a second sealing means spaced apart from and supported by said first sealing means and within said die, a volume within said sealing means and said die defining a chamber but permitting the insertion of a tubular body about said chamber and within said reforming die, means for continuously moving said tubular body between said reforming die and said chamber, and means for causing an electrical discharge within said chamber to force a body against said reforming die to result in a reforming of the moving tubular body, whereby the moving tubular body is reformed into a tubular body having substantially uniform outside dimension and shape along its length.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 including resilient means positioned about each of said sealing means to effect a seal between said sealing means and said tubular body.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient means are O-rings of low frictional material.
 4. Tubular body reforming means comprising, in combination, an annular reforming die having a bore of uniform cross section therein, a first circular plate supported within the opening of said annular die, a second circular plate spaced apart from and supported by said first circular plate within the opening of said reforming die, deformable means joining the peripheries of said first and said second circular plates, said first plate, said second plate and said deformable means defining a chamber, means for continuously moving a tubular body between said reforming die and said chamber, and means for causing an electrical discharge within said chamber to thereby force the moving tubular body against said reforming die by deformation of said deformable member, whereby the moving tubular body is reformed into a tubular body having a substantially uniform outside dimension and shape along its length.
 5. The method of reforming a tubular body comprising the steps of inserting a tubular body within a reforming die having a bore of uniform cross section, supporting a closed fluid filled chamber within the reforming die, continuously moving said tubular body between said reforming die and said chamber, and causing the fluid in the chamber to force the tubular body against the reforming die to result in a reforming of the moving tubular body, whereby the moving tubular body is reformed into a tubular body having a substantially uniform outside diameter and shape along its length.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of causing the fluid to force the tubular body is by an electrical discharge within said chamber.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said tubular body in placed in direct contact with said fluid. 